BCM Gravelines remained unbeaten through five games in Group A with a tough come-from-behind win over Cibona Zagreb 81-77 on Tuesday. In a thrilling fourth quarter that saw seven lead changes and four ties, the visitors led 69-73 with less than four minutes to play. But Gravelines responded with 10 unanswered points – half of which came from Rudy Jomby – to take over for good. The result also left Cibona winless so far this season. Ludo Vaty starred for the winners with 20 points and 7 rebounds. Jomby added 15, while Andrew Albicy tallied 15 points and 5 assists and J.K. Edwards finished with 12 points. Andrija Zizic scored 20 and grabbed 8 rebounds to lead Cibona. Goran Suton scored 13 and Damjan Rudez and Antwain Barbour netted 10 apiece.

Vaty made an impact early in the game with a pair of baskets to put Gravelines up 8-2. Jure Lalic answered for Cibona, but Vaty’s 8th point made it 12-4 after four minutes. Jomby pushed the lead to 9 from the line and after Rudez scored for Cibona, a J.R. Reynolds triple had the hosts up 18-8. Zizic countered with a three-point play, a layup and steal and a tip-in to revive the visitors. Dounia Issa hit a free throw to make it 21-15 after 10 minutes. Gravelines had no answer for Zizic who grabbed an offensive rebound, dunked and was fouled. After another foul drawn and 2 free throws made, Zizic cut the gap to 21-20 with his 12th point. Vaty drew Zizic’s second foul and he took a seat. Cyril Akpomedah put the hosts up 4, but Suton rifled in a triple at the other end. Suton picked up the scoring load from Zizic and with back-to-back scores completed the comeback and put Cibona ahead 26-27. Vaty took control inside with a tip-in and a slam before feeding Jomby for a slam. Suton scored too and Davor Kus nailed a triple to even the score at 32-32. Tomislav Zubcic’s tip-in put the visitors ahead only for triples from Jomby and Albicy to ensure a 40-36 halftime lead for the hosts.

Vaty added to the Gravelines lead to start the second half, but Cibona soon took the momentum and ran with it. Zizic scored inside, Barbour drilled a triple, Zubcic put the visitors ahead and Marin Rozic capped a 0-9 run that made it 44-47. Triples by Zubcic and Barbour later extended the lead to 5. Yannick Bokolo brought the hosts within 1. The teams proceeded to trade baskets until the third quarter ended 56-57. Albicy knotted the game at 59-59 early in the fourth quarter and Edwards put Graveline sback on top. Baskets by Kus and Rudez tied and then put Cibona back on top. The battle spiced up with the lead changing hands at one point on four consecutive baskets until a Rudez triple made it 69-73 with less than four minutes to play. Gravelines responded with a three-point play by Albicy and regained the lead, 74-73, through Vaty with three minutes remaining. Jomby stepped up with a clutch triple and then added free throws to lift his team to 79-73 with 1:53 to play. Zizic scored twice to give his team hope, but Albicy iced the win with a free throw with 5 seconds to play.